NISSAN GT-R 2013 R35 Owners Manual

5-18Starting and driving
NOTICE
.Be sure to observe the following
precautions. Failure to do so may
result in shift lever malfunction.
— Do not spill water, beverages or
other liquids on the shift lever.
— Do not allow sand or similar substances to contact the shift
lever.
. Develop the habit of performing the
operations marked with “
” with-
out pressing the button. If the
button is pressed at these times,
there is the possibility that the lever
could accidentally enter the
&Por&Rpositions.
. When the vehicle is hot, the area
around the shift lever may be hot or
may produce an unusual sound,
however this does not indicate that
there is a malfunction.
. Avoid depressing the brake and
accelerator pedals at the same time.
Depressing both pedals at the same
time could cause the clutch to over-
heat and accelerate deterioration. NOTE:
.
When moving the shift lever out of the
&Pposition, it may not be possible to
move the shift lever if the button is
pressed before the brake pedal is
depressed. Press the button only after
depressing the brake pedal.
. Do not place coins or other small
objects in the area around the shift
lever. These objects may get stuck in
the shift gate and prevent the shift
lever from moving into a position.
Sometimes, you may not be able to
retrieve these objects.
. Immediately after a cold start, while the
transmission system check display (“T/
M SYSTEM CHECK IN PROCESS”)
appears on the vehicle information
display, the shift lever cannot be moved
out of the
&Pposition. This is because a
check of the transmission system is in
progress. This does not indicate that
there is a malfunction. Move the shift
lever after the message on the vehicle
information display turns off.
. The shift lever knob and console-
mounted shift indicator have a genuine
leather finish that requires proper care and maintenance. (
“Cleaning in-
terior” page 7-5)

Shift lock release
If the battery charge is low or discharged, the
shift lever may not be moved from the&Pposition even with the brake pedal depressed
and the shift lever button pushed.
To move the shift lever, perform the following
procedure.
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF or LOCKposition.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover using a suitable tool wrapped with a cloth.
4. Push down the shift lock as illustrated. 5. Push the shift lever button and move the
shift lever to the
&Nposition while holding
down the shift lock.
Push the ignition switch to the ON position to
unlock the steering wheel. Now the vehicle may
be moved to the desired location.
If the battery is discharged completely, the
steering wheel cannot be unlocked. Do not
move the vehicle with the steering wheel locked.
NOTICE
If the shift lever cannot be moved out of
the&Pposition after performing the
shift lock release procedure, immedi-
ately have the vehicle inspected by a
GT-R certified NISSAN dealer.
Adaptive shift control
The adaptive shift control system automatically
operates when the transmission is in the&Aposition and selects an appropriate gear de-
pending on the road conditions such as uphill,
downhill or curving roads.
Control on uphill and curving roads:
A low gear is maintained that suits the degree of
the slope or curve to allow smooth driving with a
small number of shifts. Control on downhill roads:
The adaptive shift control system shifts to a low
gear that suits the degree of the slope, and uses
the engine brake to reduce the number of times
that the foot brake must be used.
Control on winding roads:
A low gear is maintained on continuous curves
that involve repeated acceleration and decelera-
tion, so that smooth acceleration is available
instantly when the accelerator pedal is de-
pressed.
NOTE:
Adaptive shift control may not operate
when the transmission oil temperature is
low immediately after the start of driving
or when it is very hot. If this occurs, switch
to the
&Mposition and downshift if neces-
sary.
&Mposition
Changing to the&Mposition:
To change to the
&Mposition from the&Aposition, either move the shift lever to the&Mside or operate the paddle shifter. The position
indicator indicates the gear position with the
indication of “M”.
If the paddle shifter is used, the first operation
changes from the
&Aposition to the&Mposition,
Starting and driving5-19

5-20Starting and driving
and the second and later operations change the
gears.
To return to the
&Aposition, move the shift lever
to the&Mside again. The position indicator
indicates the gear position with the indication of
“A”.
Changing gears using paddle shifters:
NOTE:
The vehicle cannot be accelerated from a
stop condition while the gear is in the 2nd
to 6th position. When accelerating the
vehicle from a stop condition, use the 1st
gear position.
To shift up, pull the paddle shifter on the right
side
*1toward you.
To shift down, pull the paddle shifter on the left
side
*2toward you.
. First gear:
Use this position when accelerating from a
stop, climbing a steep hill slowly or engine
braking at low speeds.
. Second gear:
Use this position when accelerating or
engine braking at mid-low speeds.
. Third gear:
Use this position when accelerating or
gently engine braking at middle speeds.
. Fourth gear:
Use this position when accelerating or
gently engine braking at mid-high speeds.

.Fifth gear:
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds. Engine braking
is weaker in this position.
. Sixth gear:
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds. Engine braking
is weakest in this position.
Suggested maximum speed in each gear:
Downshift to a lower gear if the engine is not
running smoothly, or if you need to accelerate.
Do not exceed the maximum suggested speed
(shown below) in any gear. For level road
driving, use the highest gear suggested for that
speed. Always observe posted speed limits, and
drive according to the road conditions that will
ensure safe operation. Do not over-rev the
engine when shifting to a lower gear as it may
cause engine damage or loss of vehicle control.
Gear MPH (km/h)
1st 36 (58)
2nd 63 (102)
3rd 91 (148)
4th —
5th —
6th —
NOTE:
The paddle shifters are made from magne-
sium alloy. Only clear coating is applied to
their surfaces to utilize the unique casting
patterns and the texture of the material
itself.
DRIVING TIPS
After starting the engine, fully depress the foot
brake pedal and push the shift lever button
before shifting the shift lever from the
&Pposition
to the&R,&N,or&A↔&Mposition. Be sure the
vehicle is fully stopped before attempting to shift
the shift lever.
The transmission is designed so that the foot
brake pedal must be depressed before shifting
from
&Pto any other position.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of the
&Pposition and into any other position with the
ignition switch other in the LOCK, OFF or ACC
position.
When accelerating from a stop
Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and push
the shift lever button to shift into a driving gear
as following:
. To drive forward, move the shift lever to the
&A↔&Mposition. .
To back up, move the shift lever to the
&Rposition.
Starting on level ground or an uphill:
1. Check the shift lever position indicator on the instrument panel to confirm that the
driving gear is selected.
2. Release the parking brake.
3. Release the foot brake pedal gradually, then slowly depress the accelerator pedal to start
the vehicle in motion.
(
“R mode start function” page 5-32)
NOTE:
. To prevent the clutch from overheating
when the parking brake is applied,
engine output is limited when the
accelerator pedal is depressed. In par-
ticular, the vehicle may not start
smoothly when the accelerator pedal
is depressed with the parking brake
applied on an uphill grade. To enable
smooth starting, release the parking
brake before moving the vehicle.
. The hill start assist function operates
when the vehicle is accelerating from a
stop on an uphill. (
“Hill Start
Assist” page 5-38)
Starting and driving5-21

5-22Starting and driving
When driving the vehicle
WARNING
Do not move the shift lever to the&Nposition while driving. Doing so may
result in an accident due to loss of
engine braking. It may also damage the
transmission.
Normal driving:
Drive with the shift lever in the
&Aposition.
The appropriate gear will be automatically
shifted according to the position of the accel-
erator pedal, the driving speed and driving
conditions.
Passing:
.
&Aposition:
Fully depress the accelerator pedal to the floor.
This shifts the transmission down into a lower
gear depending on the vehicle speed. Then
depress the accelerator pedal as needed to
adjust vehicle speed.
.
&Mposition:
Use the paddle shifter to down shift, then fully
depress the accelerator pedal to the floor. Then
depress the accelerator pedal as needed to adjust vehicle speed.
Hill climbing:
.
When the vehicle speed decreases, de-
press the accelerator pedal to the floor with
the shift lever in the
&Aposition. This
automatically shifts the transmission into a
lower gear and maintains this position
depending on the gradient of the hill.
. The system may down shift according to the
accelerator pedal position and the vehicle
speed.
. If the transmission is frequently changing
gears while driving, switch to the
&Mposition
and select the appropriate gear for the
driving conditions.
Driving on a downhill:
.
&Aposition:
The system shifts down according to the degree
of downhills to increase the effectiveness of the
engine brake.
.
&Mposition:
When driving on a long slope, selecting the
&Mposition and 4th or 3rd gear will provide gentle
engine braking.
When driving on a steep downhill, selecting the
&Mposition and 2nd or 1st gear will provide
powerful engine braking.
WARNING
. When the shift lever is in the&Aposition, the adaptive shift control
system will stay in a low gear in
order to maintain the effectiveness
of the engine brake. However if the
vehicle is traveling too fast depend-
ing on the degree of the slope, you
should shift to the
&Mposition and
use the paddle shifter to shift down.
If you continue to use only the foot
brake, a high load will be applied to
the brake, which may overheat,
reducing its effectiveness. Be sure
to use the engine brake together
with the foot brake. (
“Adaptive
shift control” page 5-19)
. Do not downshift abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
NOTICE
When driving in the&Aposition, gear-
shifting will be performed automatically
with the adaptive shift control system
(
“Adaptive shift control” page 5-

19) even on road conditions with con-
tinuous and sudden hills or curves.
However, when the transmission oil
temperature is low immediately after
starting the vehicle or high when enga-
ging in high performance driving, there
may be some cases where the system
cannot control shifting. When this oc-
curs, switch to the
&Mposition and
select a lower gear, depending on the
gradient of the hill.
When stopping the vehicle
Leave the shift lever in the&A↔&Mor&Rposition
and firmly depress the foot brake pedal.
If the vehicle will be stopped for a long period of
time, apply the parking brake and move the shift
lever to the
&Por&Nposition as necessary.
WARNING
. Do not race the engine while the
vehicle is stopped. Doing so may
accelerate the vehicle suddenly and
cause an accident when shifting to a
driving gear.
. While the engine is running, the
propeller shaft that transmits torque from the engine to the transmission
is turning at all times. Crawling or
reaching under the vehicle while the
engine is running may result in
serious injury.
NOTICE
When the vehicle is stopped on a hill,
do not hold the vehicle in place by
depressing the accelerator pedal. Doing
so may cause the clutch to overheat and
result in transmission damage. Use the
brakes to prevent the vehicle from
moving.
When parking the vehicle
WARNING
Follow the instructions below when
parking the vehicle to help prevent the
brake rotor and brake pads from rust-
ing together. Failure to follow the
instructions could cause the rotor and
pads to rust together. If the rotor and
pads rust together, there may be a
popping noise and some vibrationwhen the vehicle is driven, a wheel
may not roll correctly, or the brake pads
could be damaged. If the pads are
damaged, this may reduce the effec-
tiveness of the brake system which
could cause a collision, serious perso-
nal injury or death.
The GT-R uses brake pad materials that have
high metallic content. The brake pad material
helps maintain braking performance in a wide
range of weather and driving conditions.
For the first 3,000 miles (5,000 km) of the
vehicle’s service life, and for the first 3,000 miles
(5,000km) after a brake replacement, the brake
pad to brake rotor clearance is very small. When
parking, apply the parking brake and move the
shift lever to the
&Pposition. Idle the engine for
more than 20 seconds without depressing the
brake pedal. This allows the brake pads to move
away from the rotor so the pad does not contact
the rotor.
Additionally, the brakes must be dry before
parking the vehicle after driving on wet roads or
after washing the vehicle. If the roads are wet,
lightly apply the brakes for a short distance
before parking the vehicle to dry the brakes.
After washing the vehicle, dry the brakes by
driving on a dry road for a few miles and apply
Starting and driving5-23

5-24Starting and driving
the brakes normally based on traffic and road
conditions.
The metallic brake pads and brake disc rotor
may rust together when the brakes are not
applied:
.If the vehicle is not idled for 20 seconds
without the brakes applied, or if the brakes
are applied when the vehicle is shut off, the
rotor and pads can rust together, even when
the brake pads are dry.
. If the brakes are wet when the vehicle is
parked and the parking brake is applied for a
long time.
Contact a GT-R certified NISSAN dealer if the
brake pads and brake rotor have rusted
together.
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the foot brake pedal depressed, apply the parking brake.
3. Move the shift lever to the
&Pposition.
4. Check the shift lever position indicator on the instrument panel to confirm that the
&Pposition is selected.
5. Push the ignition switch to stop the engine.
WARNING
Before exiting the vehicle, be sure to
move the shift lever to the&Pposition
and stop the engine. If the engine is
running and the shift lever is not in the
&Pposition, the vehicle may start mov-
ing due to partial engagement of the
clutch or to the effects of gravity on a
slope, or the vehicle may suddenly
accelerate due to accidental operation
of the accelerator pedal, possibly caus-
ing an accident.
The control of the dual clutch transmission,
Bilstein DampTronic®electronically controlled
shock absorbers and Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) can be changed to the desired modes by
operating the setup switches. Select the desired
mode best suited to the driving conditions.
NOTE:
Bilstein DampTronic
®is a registered trade-
mark of ThyssenKrupp Bilstein Suspen-
sion GmbH.
VDC, TRANSMISSION AND
SUSPENSION SETUP SWITCHES

1. Transmission setup switch
2. Suspension setup switch
3. Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) setup switch
HOW TO SWITCH THE MODES
Each time the engine is started, all switches are
set to the normal mode. The normal mode is
recommended for normal driving. Move the
VDC, transmission and suspension setup
switches up or down to change the mode when
the engine is running.
: Push and hold the switch for longer than approximately 1 second
: Push the switch
* The selected mode is maintained even if the shift lever is moved between
&Aand&Mposition.
Starting and driving5-25

5-26Starting and driving
NOTICE
.“ESC (Electronic Stability Control)
OFF” indicated on the VDC setup
switch stands for “VDC OFF”.
. When the ignition switch is pushed
to the “ON” position, the indicators
on the setup switches may illumi-
nate briefly, however this is not a
malfunction.

FEATURES OF EACH MODE
Transmission
The transmission mode differs depending on the shift lever position,&Aor&M.
&Aposition:
Set up modeFeatures
.In addition to the normal mode functions, this mode allows you to achieve higher
engine speed, greater powertrain torque and engine braking.
.With the VDC switch in R mode, the R mode start function can be used. (“R
mode start function” page 5-32)
.When the R mode is selected, the maximum speed is lower than the one in the
normal mode.
Normal (light is off)
.For everyday and performance driving, an appropriate gear position is automatically
selected.
.For long distance driving, this mode helps improve fuel economy by reducing engine
output compared to the normal mode.
.The engine response to accelerator operation changes to be less sensitive to pedal
movement than the normal mode. The engine speed does not change as quickly for
small accelerator pedal position changes.
.This mode controls powertrain torque on snowy roads and slippery surfaces making
starting and driving easier.
.When the SAVE mode is selected, the maximum speed is lower than the one in the
normal mode.
Starting and driving5-27